Raleigh Ritchie: Beyonce Super Bowl criticism only because she's a 'talented black woman'

Singer Raleigh Ritchie said Beyonce would not have been attacked for her political Super Bowl performance if she wasn’t a “talented black woman”.

Beyonce’s performance of her song Formation in which she supported the Black Lives Matter campaign and dressed her backing dancers in costumes akin to those of the revolutionary political Black Panther Party quickly divided opinion in America.

She was both praised and criticised for her performance, with an anti-Beyonce protest set up in response to her “race-baiting stunt” and an anti-anti-Beyonce protest set up to counter that.

Ritchie, real name Jacob Anderson, slammed the negative reaction as ”completely overblown and unnecessary”.

“If anybody other than a talented black woman had done that performance, nobody would have said anything.

“I thought it was a shame people reacted that way. There was something intrinsically anti-feminist in the reaction.”

He noted that Kendrick Lamar’s Grammys performance – in which he addressed prison reform, racial inequality and black identity – “didn’t come under the same criticism”.

“And it shouldn’t have, but you can’t change the rules,” he added.

Ritchie, 25, releases his debut album, You’re A Man Now, Boy, today after three EPs, a MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) best newcomer nomination and a support slot on tours with George Ezra and Kendrick.

It features previous hits Never Say Die, Bloodsport and top 30 hit Stronger Than Ever, plus new tracks including a collaboration with man of the moment Stormzy.

Two-time MOBO winner Stormzy’s name has been at the forefront of debates on the Brit Awards in recent weeks, which doesn’t recognise grime music and has suffered from its own diversity controversies with no black acts nominated.

Ritchie castigated the Brits, saying: “Grime acts should be recognised. And not just with a dedicated grime award… It’s great what the MOBOs do but we can’t just rely on them to take all the weight. MOBO don’t just recognise black artists, they broke the diversity barrier a long time ago.”

Ritchie has been growing up in front of the microphone and camera, taking starring roles in Adulthood (and recording a song with Plan B for the soundtrack), Broadchurch and his most recognisable role as Grey Worm in Game Of Thrones.

He described his first album as his “brain diaries”: an insight into his fears about adulthood, responsibilities and growing up.

He chose the title because it’s a “total oxymoron and has something kind of patronising about it too”.

“It’s about the expectation to be ‘an adult’ when you still feel like a kid.”

He needn’t be but he’s “naturally nervous” about the reaction, admitting to only finishing it on the deadline day his label had set.

After his album drops, Ritchie will be back in the spotlight with series six of Game of Thrones, with Grey Worm abandoned by his queen Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and now in the employ of Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage).

He joked that the two are “super unprofessional”.

.@RaleighRitchie's debut album arrives tomorrow. Trust us, you need this album in your life https://t.co/Kn85Ec5WHI pic.twitter.com/BM64mgNxDh

— MOBO AWARDS (@MOBOAwards) February 25, 2016

“They’re a joy to work with, both of them. We have a lot of fun, it’s very hard for me to keep a straight face around them.”

But he kept schtum about series six secrets: “Grey Worm has a new jacket. That’s about as much as I can say. I’m not even sure if I’m meant to be saying that.”

Raleigh Ritchie’s debut album You’re A Man Now, Boy is out now.